Centralization, FY11 budget outlook to be discussed

To centralize or not to centralize, that is the question the administration will ask the School Board's Strategic Planning and Budget Committee when it meets to night to begin discussions about the FY11 budget.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the central services building, 5225 W. Vliet St. It follows a 5:30 p.m. meeting with representatives of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, a 6:30 p.m. special School Board meeting regarding a law suit and a public hearing on district governance issues at 6:45 p.m.

The administration is suggesting a couple of recentralization options, if the Board decides that some form of recentralization is something it supports.

Under the first option, the district would develop a limited centralized staffing formula for all traditional schools. The staff levels determined by formula would be for principals, assistant principals, clerical staff, paraprofessional assistants, safety aides, and general aides. Teacher staffing would be determined at the school level.

Under the second option, the district would implement a broader centralized staffing formula for elementary and K-8 traditional schools for FY11. Middle and high schools would not be included in the first year due to the complexities of staffing at those levels. In the next two years, centralized formulas would be developed for other school levels and non-staff school accounts.

Here's a risk-free prediction about the overall budget process: it will be long, arduous and painful.

The administration is projecting a decline in enrollment of 1,993 students, or 2.2%. The revenue limit is projected to decline by about $2.6 million, meaning that the school operations and construction funds budgets must be cut by that total, according to the administration's report to the committee (the budget stuff is item three). The employee fringe benefit rate is expected to hit 71% for most employees, with a 90% rate for School Nutrition Services. State aids are expected to decline, but it is impossible at this point to say by how much. The decline also should be at least partially offset by a decrease in the deduction for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.